Medicare is divided into four parts: Part A (Hospital Insurance), which covers inpatient hospital stays and skilled nursing facility care; Part B (Medical Insurance), which covers outpatient services, such as doctor visits and preventive services; Part C (Medicare Advantage), an alternative to Original Medicare that often includes additional benefits like dental, vision, and hearing; and Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage), which covers the costs of prescription medications.

You can enroll in Medicare during the Initial Enrollment Period, which begins three months before you turn 65 and ends three months after your 65th birthday. There are also Special Enrollment Periods for those who may be covered by a current employer’s health plan beyond age 65, and a General Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31 each year if you missed your Initial Enrollment.

You may not need to sign up for Medicare at 65 if you have health insurance through your employer. However, it is important to sign up for Medicare Part A, which is premium-free for most people, as it may cover some costs not included in your employer's plan. Consult with your HR department or a Medicare advisor to understand how your current insurance works with Medicare.

Medicare does not cover everything. Items and services not covered include long-term care, most dental care, eye examinations related to prescribing glasses, dentures, cosmetic surgery, acupuncture, hearing aids and exams for fitting them, and routine foot care.

The cost of Medicare varies based on the coverage you choose. Part A is usually free if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes for a certain amount of time. Part B has a standard monthly premium of $174.70 in 2024, which could be higher based on your income. Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) and Prescription Drug Plans (Part D) premiums vary by plan. Additionally, there may be deductibles and co-pays depending on the services used.

Yes, you can change your Medicare coverage during specific times of the year. The Annual Enrollment Period from October 15 to December 7 allows you to change, add, or drop Medicare health or drug plans, with changes effective the following January 1. Also, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31 each year allows anyone with a Medicare Advantage Plan to switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan or switch back to Original Medicare.

In most cases, you’ll automatically get Part A and Part B starting the first day of the month you turn 65. If your birthday is on the first day of the month, Part A and Part B will start the first day of the prior month.   

You automatically get Part A and Part B after you get disability benefits from Social Security or certain disability benefits from the RRB for 24 months.   

You automatically get Part A and Part B the month your disability benefits begin.     

Depending on the plan in the area, you can address the benefits we have in a Medicare Advantage (MA) or Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plan.

VA and MA plan benefits are separate; therefore, it is not possible to lose VA benefits by enrolling in an MA or MA-PD plan. It does not affect the consumer’s eligibility for VA care.

This may not be true. For some of the higher medal awardees and disability ratings, this may be true, but generally is not true for the majority of veterans.

The answer is no. Congress mandates budgeting for the VA, which impacts benefits for veterans, and these could change at any time. Veterans would be notified of any changes in writing.

More choices, more opportunities for second opinions, possibly see a provider quicker, and benefits outside of the area that have VA facilities.

Special Enrollment Periods under Part A & Part B do exist. The consumer must contact Social Security to ask for this Special Enrollment Period. The SEP Starts: Once Social Security decides they qualify for a Special Enrollment Period and Ends: At least 6 months later. Coverage starts the month after they sign up.